Automobile doorlocking system



March 14, 1933. F. BEAL 1,901,548

AUTOMOBILE DOORLOCKING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 21, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 14, 1933. F. BEAL 1,901,548

AUTOMOBILE DOORLOCKING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 21, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 14, 1933. F, BEAL 1,901,548

AUTOMOBILE DOORLOCKIN G SYSTEM Filed 001:. 21, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w W 82 a1 79 85 J 1 I I I I Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATE PATENT'O F FAY DEAL, or 'xoxomo, INDIANA, AssIeNon 'ro KINGSTON rnonucrs oonronArIoN,

I or xoxomo, INDIANA, A conroBA'rIoN or I DIANA AUroIIoBILn oonLocxI e SYSTEM.

Application filed October 21, 1929. Serial No. 401,053.

This invention relates to means for simultaneously locking and unlocking a plurality of doors from a single point.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved and simplified mechanism for simultaneously locking and unlocking the normal latching mechanism of a plurality of doors from a master control. It has heretofore been proposed to provide a distant type of control for opening and closinga number of doors but such mechanisms do not lock or latch the doors other than opposing the inertia of the operating mechanism to an opening movement thereof. The present invention differs therefrom in providing means for positively preventing the unauthorized unlocking or unlatching from the outside of any door of the series.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved device of the class described wherein the usual source of electrical energy of an automotive vehicle is momentarily utilized to operate electrical lockin and unlocking mechanism associated wit the normal door latching mechanism whereby a normally open circuit is maintained. By thus utilizing short current impulses to accomplish the actual locking or unlocln'ng operation, a great Waste of electrical energy is avoided.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved locking and unlocking mechanism of the class described wherein one master lock, associated with one of the normal door latching mechanisms, if de sired, is provided with means for temporarily connecting electrical door locking and unlocking mechanism associated with the normal door latching mechanism of the other doors whereby the door latching mechanisms of all the doors will be locked when the master lock is actuated.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1- is a plan view-of a lock switch forming one embodiment of the features of this invention. a

Figure 2 isa side view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section on the line III-III of Figure 2 showa ing the battery terminal contact.

I Figure 4: is an enlarged cross section on the line IV-IV of Fi re2, showing the door locking and unloc 'ng contacts.

Figure5, is a view of a conventional door locking mechanism to which structure embodymg one form of the invention has been applied. In this figure the door lock is in operative position. I

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the door lock released.

Figure 7 is a side view of Figure 6.

Figure '8 is a wiring diagram embodying the lock switch of Fi ures 1 to 4. A

Figure 9 is a modi ed embodiment of the invention wherein the lock switch has'been incorporated with a door locking mechanism.

Figure 10 is a wiring dia ram corresponding to the modification of igure 9.

Figure 11 discloses a further modification of this invention as incorporated in a door latch mechanism. I

Figure 12 is a section on the line XII- XII of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a section on the so line XIII- j XIII showing the unlocking position of the contacts.

Fi re 14 is a section similar to Figure 13 showlng the locking position of the contacts. 35 Figure 15 is a section similar to Figure 13 showing the normal position of the switch mechanism.

Figure 16 is a wiring diagram of this modification.

As shown on the drawings:

Since the present invention is intended-to simultaneously lock the several doors of an automobile for example, a preliminary discussion of the conventional door latch or look will assist in understanding the invention. A conventional lock is shown in a sectional view in Figure 9, a door handle 15 operating an inwardly extending bar 16 which enters a square aperture 17 shown in Figures 1*- and 6 and serves to rotate a lever 18 which .connected in series with and unlocking solenoids in turn acts to push back a lug 19 associated with the sliding door latch 20, thus retracting the latch, which normally pro ects through a suitable aperture in a flange 21, formed along the edge of a lock plate 22, which is built into the door structure, and

'is normally concealed by the interior finish.

The magnetically operated lock of this invention comprises a lever or dog 23 pivoted at 24, one end being notched at 25 to engage the upper end of the lock operating lever 18 as shown in Figure 5, to prevent the retraction of the latch by the normal operation of the external door handle. The magnetic lock does not, however, interfere with the interior control mchanism usually provided to permit operating the doors from the inside, since the magnetic lock of this invention acts against the outer lock releasing linkage.

The lever 23 is provided with an upstanding arm 26 which extends between the adjacent ends of the cores of a pair of solenoids or electromagnets, it being understood that the term solenoid as used hereinafter shall be deemed to include any suitable electromagnetic device for the purpose intended. In Figures 4 and 5 the left hand or locking solenoid 27 is positioned to pull the arm 26 to the left and thus shift the lever 23 downwardly until its notched end 25 drops in front of the lock operating lever 18. The corresponding right hand or unlocking solenoid 28 is positioned to pull the arm 26 to the right, thus lifting the lever 23 out of the path of the lock operating lever 18.-

Since it is a feature of this invention that the solenoids will be operated by momentary impulses rather than be in continuous circuit, a detent 29 is provided to engage in notches 30 in an extension 31 of the lever 23, the detent being urged into engaged position by a spring 32 and withdrawn against the spring action by a solenoid 33 both of the locking so that when either one of the latter is energized the detent is simultaneously withdrawn from engagement with the notches in the lever extension 31.

The locking solenoids 27 of each door locking mechanism have one terminal connected to a common wire 35 leading to a locking switch contact post 36 on a separate switch body 37 as in Figures 1 to 4 or on a switch housing 38 in Figure 9 where the housing forms an extension of the usual door handle shank 39. Similarly the several unlocking solenoids 28 have one terminal connected to a, common wire 40 leading to an .unlocking switch contact post 41 on the switch body or housing. A battery 42, which preferably is the usual vehicle battery,\has one terminal 43 connected by a wire 44 in common to one terminal of each of the detent solenoids 33, the other terminals thereof being connected at 45 to both the second terminals of their respective locking and unlocking solenoids. The other battery terminal 46 is connected by a wire 47 to a battery contact post 48 on the switch body or housing. The foregoing description is common to both wiring diagrams, Flgure 10 differing from Figure 8 only in that one door is directly locked by the operation of the switchkey while the remaining doors are simultaneously locked by the magnetic locking mechanism heretofore described.

The three switch contacts 36, 41 and 48 are similar in structure, comprising a plunger 50 in electrical contact with the binding posts through a spring 51, the plunger 50 carrying a collar 52 which rests against an insulating washer 53 when the plunger moves inwardly to its limit. The plunger is surrounded by an insulating lining in a bushing 54. The two contacts 48 and 41 are mounted in the sides of the switch body 37 or housing 38 and contact 41 rides on a spool 55 which is flattened on one side at 56, as shown in Figure 4, so that when the plunger drops into this flat, its circuit is broken. The flat is so arranged that the unlocking plunger is normally extended, while a partial rotation of the spool is required to permit the unlocking plunger to be pushed back to ground its circuit to the spool 55. The battery terminal post 48 is mounted on the switch body diametrically opposite the unlocking post 41 and in contact with the spool 55, the plunger having no in and out movement but simply bearing against the spool. The locking contact 36 is mounted on the side of the switch body somewhat out of the plane of the opposed contacts 41 and 48 and bears against a downward cup-like extension 58 of the spool but which is insulated from the spool by a washer 59, which washer is so positioned as to form a bearing for the plunger when the lock is in its normal locked position but moves past the plunger position when the lock is pushed in past its normal position during the act of locking, as will hereinafter be described. When the insulating washer moves past the plunger the latter makes contact with the spool 55 which temporarily energizes the locking solenoid then projecting to the left into a recess 66 in the cylinder wall to lock the plunger in position. Upon the insertion and rotat1on of a key 68 the pin 65 is withdrawn past the bottom edge of the sleeve 62 allowing the locking cylinder to move outwardlly until restrained by the sleeve 62 in t 1e position shown in Figure 3. The structure so far described is identical in both forms of the invention, the housing 38 of Figure 9 also functioning as the shank of the door handle 15.

In Figure 3 the spool 55, washer 59 and extension 58 are attached to the inner face of the lock cylinder 64 by a screw 69, and insulated therefrom as shown, a torsion spring 70 being interposed between the bottom of the chamber 60 and the screw 69. The function of this torsion spring 70 is to restore alignment of the locking cylinder after the unlocking movements have been completed.

In Figure 9, a member 71 is interposed between the lock cylinder 64 and the spool 55, this member carrying a pin 7 2 sliding in a slot in the combined door handle shank and switch housing 38, the outer end of the pin engaging a notch 73 in a fixed collar 74 enveloping art of the handle shank. In the unlocked position of the pin it is free to make a partial rotation in a peripheral groove in the handle shank 39.

The second modification of Figures 11 to 15 is applied to a door handle structure 75 containing a partially rotating type of lock cylinder 76 which operates a reciprocating double ended contact member 77 through a shaft 78 carrying a crank pin 79 engaging in a slot 80 in the contact member 77. Oppositely disposed contacts 81 and 82, mounted on an insulating base 83, are so positioned as to be engaged by the reciprocating contact member at the extremes of its motion. The contact 81 is connected to the locking solenoid 27 and the contact 82 is connected to the unlocking solenoid 28, the contacts being respectively shown in operative engagement in Figures 14 and 13.

The wiring diagram of Figure resembles that of Figure 8 except that the battery terminal 46 is grounded at 83 and the handle structure 75 is similarly grounded at 84, eliminating the need of the battery contact member 48 of the first form.

The operation of unlocking the first form of the device of this invention comprises inserting the key 68 in the locking cylinder 64 and partially turning the key to release the pin 65 from its notch 66. WVhen the pin is released, the spring 70 tends to push the locking cylinder out, while at the same time the manual pressure on the key rotates the lock cylinder 64 to rotate the spool 55 counterclockwise in Figure 4 thus'allowing the plunger 50 of the unlocking contact 41 16 closely to make contact with the spool 55. As soon as the switch key is released or withdrawn, the torsion spring rotates the locking cylinder 64 back to its original alignment.

When the unlocking circuit is closed through the switch, thedetent solenoid 33 and unlocking solenoids 28 are simultaneously energized from the battery thus lifting the notched end 25 of the lever 23 out of engagement with the lever 18. 1

When it is desired to lock .the mechanism the locking cylinder 64 is pushed in beyond its normal locked position, and a circuit through the spool 55 is momentarily closed when the washer 59 moves past the plunger of the locking contact 36. A circuit is thus momentarily completed from the battery through the detent solenoids 33. andthe locking solenoids 27 thus dropping the bar 23 so that its notch 25 engages the lever 18 to prevent actuation of the normal external door latch releasing mechanism.

The operation of the door handle type of lock and switch, shown in Figure 9, is substantially similar to the foregoing descrip tion of the preferred form. a

In the modification of Figures 11 to 16 the door handle structure is grounded as is one terminal of the battery.- The lock cylinder 76 has no reciprocating motion, a key being inserted and rotated clockwiseas in Figure 13 to make the unlocking contact, and being rotated in the opposite direction as shown in Figure 14 to make the locking contact, the circuit in each case being completed through the detent solenoids and locking or unlocking solenoids to the grounded handle and battery.

In order to center the locking cylinder 76 and its associated contact member 77 a pin 83 is mounted in the side of the cylinder as shown in dotted lines in Figure 11 and is movable in a groove 84 in the handle, being normally centered in the groove by opposing springs 85.

It will thus be seen that I have invented an improved mechanism for simultaneously locking a number of doors from a single master lock, wherein magnetic lock operating .mechanism is momentarily energized during the normal looking or unlocking operations as for example as required for operating a single door.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. Door locking means for simultaneously locking and unlocking several doors, comprising in combination with manual door operating mechanisms, means in each door adapted to be interposed in said mechanisms to prevent the operation thereof, a source of electrical energ solenoids cooperating with said means to s ift the same into looking or unlocking osition, detent means associated with said rst mentioned means, a solenoid connected in series with said shifting solenoids 'for releasing said detent means, a master lock, and means associated therewith adapted to momentaril complete the circuit from said source 0 electrical energy to all of said solenoids selectively when the master lock is correspondingly actuated.

2. In combination with the door locks of a vehicle body and the normal latching handles therefor, electrically operated locking mechanism adapted when set to hold said handles from lock releasing movement, means normally restraining movement of said electrically operated locking mechanism, a key operated master lock and means associated therewith adapted to momentarily release said restraining means and to energiz'e the electrically operated locking mechanism to selectively set and release the same upon actuation of said master lock.

3. In combination with the door locks of a vehicle body and the normal latching handles therefor, electrically operated locking mechanism adapted when set to hold said handles from lock releasing movement, a key operated master lock, and means associated therewith adapted to momentarily energize the electrically operated locking mechanism to selectively set and release the same upon actuation of said master lock.

4. In combination with the normal latching mechanism of the doors of an automotive vehicle, means for simultaneously restraining or releasing the operation of the normal latching mechanism, detents for maintaining the position of said means, a key operated master lock, and means associated therewith for temporarily releasing said detents and operating said first mentioned means when the master lock is actuated.

5. A plurality of door locks having outside and inside operating handles, lock dogs operative when set to hold said outside handles against lock-releasing movements,

key-controlled means operative from the outside of one of said locks to render the several handles operative to perform their unlocking functions, lock controlling means arranged to cause one of said locks to act as a primary locking mechanism and the other locks to act as secondary locking mechan ism. and means arranged to cause release of the lock dogs of the secondary locking mechanisms, automatically from key manipulations of the primary lock mechanism.

6. The combination of an automotive vehicle and a source of electrical energy carried thereby, the vehicle comprising a pluralit of door locks including operating han les, other means for manually actuating one of said locks, means in each lock for electrically dogging and undogging said handles, and means associated with the first said means for causing actuation of said dogging means when the first said means is actuated to render thehandles operative.

- 7. A plurality of door locks, each including an operative handle, a dog in each lock adapted when set to hold the handles against lock releasing movements, a source of electrical energy, a plurality of solenoids cooperating with said dogs to shift the same to set and released positions, a master lock, and means associated with said master lock to momentarily complete an electric circuit through certain-of said solenoids when the master lock is correspondingly actuated.

8. A plurality of door locks including operating handles, lock dogs operative when set to hold said handles against lock releasing movement, lock controlling means for causing one of the locks to serve as a master lock and the other locks to serve as secondary locks, means associated with said master lock to cause the release of the lock dogs of the secondary lock automatically when the master lock is actuated, for rendering the operating-handles operative.

9. A plurality of door locks having operating handles, lock dogs operative when set to hold said handles against lock releasing movement, means for rendering said handles operative to perform their unlocking functions, lock controlling means arranged to cause one of the locks to act as a primary locking mechanism and the other locks to act as secondary locking mechanisms, and means for causing release of the lock dogs of the secondary locking mechanisms automatically upon key manipulation of the primary locking mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FAY BEAL. 

